Subceiling track structure



May 22, 1962 G. W. TUTEN ETAL SUBCEILING TRACK STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 12, 1958 May 22, 1962 e. w. TUTEN ETAL SUBCEILING TRACK STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 12, 1958 jzvenfors:

United States Patent 3,035,672 SUBCEILING TRACK STRUCTURE Gilbert W. Tuten, Morton Grove, and Edwin R. Maki,

Chicago, 111., assignors to Luminous Ceilings, Inc., Chicage, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Filed Nov. 12, 1958, Ser. No. 773,280 4 Claims. (Cl. 189-85) This invention has as its principal object the provision of improvements in subceiling structures or gridworks of the type employed in luminous-ceiling installations to support light-transmitting louvres, and plastic difiusion sheeting and panels, it being a particular object to provide track sections and wall angles having certain groove formations cooperable with supporting brackets adapted to snap into the groove portions for interconnecting individual track sections end-to-end to make up a span at wall corners, at intermediate hanger positions, or in the endwise abutment of spans with wall angles.

More particular objects and aspects of novelty and utility relate to details of form, construction, and cooperation of the embodiments described hereinafter in view of the annexed drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a subceiling track layout;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section of the intermediate supporting-bracket means as taken along lines 2-2 of FIG 1; a

FIG. 3 is a perspective detail of one of the intermediate bracket plates;

FIG. 4 is a perspective bracket plates;

FIG. 5 is a perspective detail of one of the straight bracket plates;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective detail of one of the track sections;

FIGS. 7 to 9 are perspective assembly details showing the snap-in engagement of the bracket plates in the track grooves.

In FIG. 1 there are shown portions of a subceiling structure of a type employed for louvre lighting, and comprising a plurality of parallel primary track sections 10, 11, 12 extending in practice the full length of a room, each room-length span of track being made up of a series of shorter track sections coupled end-to-end, and each measuring from six to eight feet in length.

Each room-length span of track will be spaced from the side walls and from each other crosswise of the room a distance of about 36 inches. At the two terminal ends of each room-length span of coupled tracks, the endmost portion of the first and last track section in the span will be supported respectively on the track flange or ledge of a section of wall-angle track 14 secured by means to be described to one of the room walls; and the intermediate portions of each span are supported by special bracket means and suspensory members pending from the room ceiling or more usually from lighting fixtures attached thereto.

The track sections are suspended and connected endto-end, and at the span terminals to wall angles by special bracket means cooperating with snap-in formations provided in both the track sections and wall angles.

The special character of the track sections is illustrated in FIG. 6 from which it will be observed that the section there depicted is of an inverted T cross section consisting of a long vertical or central web 10W and a detail of one of the angular cross flange 10F extending laterally along the length of the bottom margin of the central web. The cross flange extends laterally equal distances so as to provide on each side of the web a track ledge adapted to support a subceiling lighting panel such as a translucent plastic sheet member (not illustrated) or louvre units 20, such as 3,035,672 Patented May 22, 1962 ice shown in FIG. 1, it being understood that a complete luminous ceiling installation would include an array of parallel primary track sections and a full complement of louvre units 20 covering the entire overhead area of the subceiling, the latter whether employing plastic sheeting or louvres, being illuminated from above or behind by means of fluorescent lamp units 22 suitably located on the main ceiling.

An important feature of the track and bracket means is the provision of undercut grooves 106 in lips or beads formed along the longitudinal edges of both the cross flange and the web, there being a groove on each side of the web, so that there will be a pair of grooves 10G on each side of the web, one groove of each pair being situated in the track ledge, and the remaining groove of each pair being situated at the top of the web on the corresponding side thereof with the appertaining ledge grooves.

As a result of the foregoing construction, each track section may be said to consist of two L-shaped ledge or track strips back-to-back and sharing a common back wall, namely, the vertical web, each such L-shaped track formation being provided with a pair of bracket grooves 10G, one at the top of the web and one in the foot or ledge portion thereof.

The wall angle sections 13 and 14, as seen in FIG. 1, differ from the primary sections only in having but one L- shaped portion instead of two, back-to-back. In other words, the wall angles are L-shaped in cross section with one set of grooves 10G, while the primary tracks are T- shaped in cross section and have two sets of grooves 106, one on each side of the web.

Bracket means supportably cooperable with the grooved track members 10 are shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the construction in FIG. 3 disclosing an elongated metal strip 30 having an offset locking foot 31 of a width to snap into one of the track ledges 10F behind the appertaining marginal groove, in the manner seen in FIG. 2. V

Extending crosswise of the strip 30 is a deep crimp 32 located at a level corresponding to that of the top grooving or bead on the web 10W to permit the strip to fit flush against said web, as in FIG. 2.

At the upper end region of each bracket strip 30 are two punched-out tabs 33 on opposite edges of the strip, these tabs being adapted to engage in holes formed at the ends of spacing angles or bars 29 cross-connecting the several spans of track at intervals along the length of the room.

As shown in FIG, 1, single bracket strips 358 are used to support the wall angles by engagement of the oifset bracket foot in the ledge groove of the track section, as explained above, and securing the top of the strip by means of screws 35 driven into the wall through top holes 34 (FIG. 3) punched in the strip.

Overhead support of the intermediate track spans is achieved by use of the strips 30 in pairs, back-to-back, in the manner illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 where, in the latter view, the two companion strips 30A, 30B are clamped together by bolt and nut means 37 passed through the preformed holes 36 (FIG. 3), punched in the strips, it being observed in FIG. 2 that in this assembled or paired condition the two embossments 32 form a sort of tubular passage embracing the grooved lip or ridge along the upper margin of the vertical track web 10W to stabilize the grip of the bracket on the track cooperatively with the locking of the oflfset feet 31 in their respective bottom grooves.

Depending hanger rods 38 (FIGS. 1 and 2) are hooked at their lower ends into the top holes 34 of the pairs of hanger strips, and at their upper ends the rods are engaged with hanger angles 39 on the lighting troughs 22.

Further intermediate support is afforded by the track and bracket means in joining the several track sections end-to-end in making up a span. This is illustrated in FIG. 1 with respect to sections 11 and 12 which are intended to be butted end-to-end and coupled by a pair of elongated bracket strips 40 formed as in FIG. 5, namely, with an oflset foot portion 41 adapted to snap in behind the lower track groove 19G with the elongated upright portion 40 adapted to fit back flush against the track web W and the upper edge 42 of the strip snapped into the upper groove 1tlG at the top of the Web, as in FIGS. 9 and 1, the latter view showing two of the snap-in plates 40 joined to section 12 and it being understood, as indicated by the bracketed arrow, that section 11 is also to be engaged by the two plates 40 in like manner to conjoint sections 11 and 12. FIGS. 7, 8, and 9 show the stages of snap-in action of these bracket members.

As shown in FIG. 5, the elongated bracket strips40 are provided with locking formations in the nature of sharp embossments 43 struck out of the side thereof to provide a sharp tooth adapted to bite into the web 10W of the track to prevent shifting of the bracket strips lengthwise of the track sections, the latter being most usually fabricated from aluminum, by reason of which the sharp embossments 43 are rendered particularly effective for locking purposes.

Conjunctive support of track sections with wall angles or of wall angles meeting at a corner, is ailorded by the angular bracket shown in FIG. 4, consisting of two identical plate portions 50, 50A integrally joined as at 52 at a right angle, and each having an offset foot 51 or 51A adapted to snap into one of the bottom ledge or track grooves 10G or 146 (FIG. 1) when the end of a track section, such as 10, is butted into conjunction with the wall angle 14 (FIG. 1) or when two wall angles 13 and 14 meet at a corner (FIG. 1).

The angle brackets 50 differ from the elongated bracket strips 40 in the angmlar disposition of the two Wings thereof, and by the provision of cut-away portions 54 at the corner meeting angle, rigidifying ribs 54 in each Wing and respectively extending almost into conjunction at said meeting angle or corner. As in the form of FIG. 5, the upper edge regions 55, 55A of the angle bracket means 50, 50A of FIG. 4 is provided with teeth or embossments 53 to prevent sliding displacement in the tracks and wall angles.

We claim:

1. Cooperating structural members, a first one of which comprises an elongated beam having a back web with a rectangularly offset foot ledge, the latter having a longitudinal outer margin'with a snap-in groove formed therealong and opening in a direction toward said Web, the latter having a longitudinal top margin with a snap-in groove formed therealong and opening in a direction toward said foot; and a second one of said cooperating members comprising an elongated snap-in member having a back wall and offset foot each respectively complementary in size and angular relationship to the Web and foot of the first member so as to interfit flush thereagainst, said backwall part of the snap-in member having a free top edge adapted to fit into the web groove and said foot of the snap-in member having a free edge adapted to fit into said foot ledge groove, the snap-in member further having suificient yieldability to permit fitting one of said free-edges thereof into one of the grooves of the first member, and snapping the'other said free edge thereof laterally into the remaining groove of said first member for supporting assembly with the latter.

2. 'A construction according to claim 1 further characterized in that said beam is of T-cross-section so as to have two foot ledges projecting oppositely from a common central web, and the latter has a continuous bead along its top margin in which said snap-in groove is duplicated on opposite sides of the common Web Whereby there will be a set of top and foot grooves On each side of the web, together with hanger means comprising a pair of L-shaped legs each having a foot adapted to rest on one of said ledges on one side of the Web and respectively locking into the appertaining snapin groove; each said leg being of a length to fit against and project substantially above the web, both legs having deformed, mutually alignable offsets fitting around said head and cooperatively clamping the same on clamping of said projecting leg portions together; removable means clamping the projecting leg portions together as aforesaid, and formations on said projecting leg portions for engaging a support.

3. in a subceiling structure of the type having elongated contiguous track sections joined end-to-end, each section having a vertical web with an undercut locking groove along its top margin opening downwardly in the direction of its foot, and each section further having along its bottom a foot flange constituting a track and projecting outwardly at right angles from the web, each said foot flange having an undercut groove along its outer margin and opening in a direction toward said Web, together with coupling means for joining contiguous track sections and comprising a piece of thin springy metal having a back web with a rectangular offset foot both of cross-wise dimensions relative to the corresponding dimensions of said track webs and flanges to fit interlockingly with spring snap action laterally beneath and into said grooves in closely nested relation, web-to-web and foot-to-foot.

4. A construction according to claim 3 further characterized in that said coupling means is angular and has two angularly oflset coupling sections each comprising a web and foot flange offset at a predetermined substantial angle from the web and foot flange of the other for coupling endwise contiguous track sections meeting at the same angle; said web and foot flange portions of the two relatively offset sections at their conjunctive corner angle being cut away to eliminate locking interfit of portions of the foot flanges and webs of both sections at the corner angle formed by the conjunction of said two offset sections.

References Cited in the file of this patent Strauss et a1, Apr. 8, 1958 

